The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-10-21

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The Conflict Between Capital and
Labor.
There can be no conflict between
capital and labor. The one is so wholly
dependent on the other that the two
must of necessity be friends. This is
the stock speech of the theore tical
political economist. Nevertheless
movements on every hand proclaim that
there is not only conflict but an ir-
repressible conflict between them. Cap
ital is constantly entering into new and
more powerful combinations, and the
purpose of those large associations is to
crush out, or rather make capital null in
the hands of individuals. Persons with
few hundreds or thousands of dollars
caE scarcely engage in any business at
present which they can make it profit.
able to follow. Large combinations COM
pete with the weaker party by selling
lower, either because they can produce
cheaper or they will afford to lose some,
thing to freeze out their weaker com.
petitor, and have the market undisputed
in their own hands when such prices
can be established and maintained as
will renumerate them for losses in this
piratical practice, aud insure steady in.
come in future, regardless of the laws
of trade.
The Standard Oil Company is no.
table instance of this crushing out pro.
cess of smaller industries under the feet
of giant and merclless monopoly. This
could not have been accomplished had
not railroad companies lent the Stan
dard Oil Company their aid, and dis
crimiuated against small rehneries,
running thousands b. this unjust dis
crimination. The coal business is al
most entirely in the control Of railroad
companies. They dictate prices and
conditions to retail dealers, without the
least regard for their wishes or the
rights Of the citizen, A 'trust' has
recently been formed in rubber by
which it is proposed to take entire
charge of the rubber business of the
United States, drive all small manufac.
turers out Of the business and control
prices both wholesale and retail, levying
what tariff they please on the consumers
of rubber goods. The last of these
great monopolies is the sugar "trust'
which steps are now being taken to
form, by which "syndicate," which
means band of New York capitalists,
will take entire control of the sugar
business of this country both raw and
refined, and levy such tribute on con-
sumers as will insure their stock a
largely paying investment let the labor
market be eitl er dull or prosperous
The great telegraph monopoly of Jay
Gould has at last drawn into its capac.
ious nav the B. & o. telegraph system,
wiping cut all opposition. to the West
ern Union that such rates and service
can and will be accorded the public as
one man shall see fit, which under such
circumstances are sure to be inefficient
and high. The New York Herald which
has held up in opposition to govern
ment control of the telegraph, at last
comes out on the side of those who con.
tend that our government should take
underits exclusive control the telegraph
lines of the country and afford the pub.
lie the cheapest and best service that it
is possible to give, as the government
controls the mail business. No man or
combination of individuals should be
allowed to levy toll on the public for
either telegraph or transportation bus
mess.
1t is herein that capital is growine
antagonistic to labor. Small accumu.
lations of capital which are savings of
labor. if its owner ventures to invest it
in business, quickly finds some giant
monopoly bas the same line of business
under its control and is farming it out
to some parties which have bought the
privilege and protection from the mo-
nopoly, and immediate retirement ffom
the business or utter ruin is offered him
to choose between.
Organizations of labor are forming to
oppose this condition of affairs, and are
seething and boiling in an unrest which
their powerlcss condition and obscure
road to the desired end causes. Ignor-
ance, demagogue control and rum are
the weights which principally clog and
impede the progress Of the combinations
of wage earners. There is another
power embracing the agricultural class
which in point Of numbers, intelligence,
aggregation Of capital and conservative
purpose is by far the greatest force in
the nation. Earnest leaders are rally
ing this cautious and over suspicious
class, and endeavoring to organize them
on the side of just government and pro-
lection for industry. The several or
CARNATIONS of farmers are growing more
political in their discussions, bold and
independent in public action, and are
gradually coming to think and act in.